All posts by KDO office

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SMOL TALK Builds Community!

What a wonderful evening! Thanks to everyone who came out to our very first smol talk event at Bonton & Company!

Credit to Lana Welchman and Charlotte Luscombe for coming up with the concept and letting KDO run with it.

BRAVISSIOMO to the brave guest speakers who shared their stories of PLACE, PASSION & PURPOSE: Shelby Jordan, Christopher MacIntyre, Aubyn O’Grady and Dr. Adam Sherrard!

Gratitude to event sponsors, City of Dawson and Government of Yukon, Economic Development!

Thanks to Klondike Institute of Art & Culture (KIAC) for loaning the technical gear.

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Supporting Farming in the Klondike

KDO has partnered with Klondike Farmers Forum on a project to gather information to get to know the Klondike area farming community better and to provide a basis for planning.

We’ve launched a survey that aims to find out about current farming and agricultural processing activity, and learn about the needs of farmers for infrastructure, organizational frameworks, and other supports that would foster sustainable development of local food production.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TSQ7B6Y

You may have completed a similar survey in 2020 (thanks, if so!). Any repetition in this survey is intentional and necessary to generate comparative data that will eventually demonstrate trends over time, and track important changes within the sector.

Following closure of the survey, data will be analyzed and shared with the public and the farming community through online and in-person formats. Information gathered will support planning and organizing of actions to benefit the sector.

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Dawson City Solar Project Connects to the Yukon electrical grid

Dawson City, Yukon (March 10, 2022) – Klondike Development Organization (KDO) is thrilled to announce that the Dome Road Solar Independent Power (IPP) project is now operational and converting springtime sunshine to electricity.

At 199 kW AC the new solar power project will generate 280 MWh of energy each year, about enough power to satisfy the year-round total electricity needs of roughly 25 Yukon homes. Small by comparison to most IPPs, the size was both a good fit for our non-profit organization’s capacity and for the chosen site at a former municipal landfill. Through a low-cost lease agreement with the City of Dawson, this otherwise unusable brownfield now features a solar electricity generating system that is helping to offset our community’s carbon footprint.

While most of Yukon’s power needs are supplied by hydroelectricity, shoulder and winter seasons in Dawson City can still require the use of generators to meet power demands. During that period (September through May) our small independent power production translates into greenhouse gas offsets of between 91 and 122 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.

In addition to the environmental benefits of the project, KDO’s social enterprise model will result in an economic development legacy for our community. While the first 10 years of operating this infrastructure will be done on a lean cost-recovery basis, the IPP forecasts profits over the long term. As a non-profit organization, any revenues the Klondike Development Organization earns will always be re-invested in local activities such as renewable energy, affordable housing, community research and other projects.  

Building a solar power project required the partnership and support of multiple parties and governments through both the feasibility/development and construction phases. With sincere gratitude, we acknowledge: Government of Canada (Arctic Energy Fund $486,000, Northern REACHE $105,000 over 2 years), Government of Yukon (Innovative Renewable Energy Initiative $83,200, construction, Regional Economic Development Fund $8,500 planning), City of Dawson ($10,000).  KDO sourced commercial financing (CIBC) for the balance of construction costs. KDO would like to thank Yukon Energy Corporation for patiently working through what is still a new process with us, and our design and construction contractors, Solvest Inc. for their expertise and dedication in bringing this project to completion. 

This renewable energy project falls under the scope of the Government of Yukon’s Independent Power Production policy.

“Our Government is committed to reaching net-zero by 2050 and the Dome Road solar array will help our country meet its ambitious emissions reduction targets. The solar array is now operational and capable of producing up to 280 MWh annually, providing a clean-energy alternative for Dawson City residents and helping them reduce their reliance on diesel.”
Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities 

“Communities in Yukon are leading the way with locally-led, innovative clean energy solutions that work for them. Our Government will continue to be a strong partner as we work together to lower greenhouse gas emissions on the path to Net-Zero by 2050. I want to congratulate the Klondike Development Organization and Dawson City on the launch of its new Dome Road Solar Power Project. By harnessing solar energy in the land of the midnight sun, the project will provide economic benefits for the community and clean energy to Yukoners.”
The Honourable Daniel Vandal, P.C., M.P. 
Minister of Northern Affairs

“The Dome Road Solar Independent Power project is helping the Yukon transition to renewable energy sources while ensuring energy rates remain low for Yukoners.  Congratulations to the Klondike Development Organization on the commissioning of their new solar energy generating system. We are pleased to see this third independent power production project come online this year, that will help the Yukon meet its climate goals under Our Clean Future.  Our government will continue to support  forward-looking projects like this that contribute to the Yukon’s transition towards a clean energy future.”
Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources John Streicker

“The completion of this project is exciting news for the future of The Klondike for many reasons. Renewable energy sources help our territory combat climate change while meeting the objectives outlined in Our Clean Future, greater access to electricity will also help Dawson City grow in a sustainable way. Engineers in the Yukon have been creating innovative solutions to increase the quality of life in our territory since the Yukon Ditch was constructed at the turn of the 20th century and I am glad that we can continue to undertake new energy projects for the benefit of all Yukoners.”
Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai

“We’ve heard time and time again that Yukoners want more sources of clean electricity. Buying renewable electricity from Klondike Development Organization’s solar generating station – and others like it – helps us do just that, particularly during the shoulder seasons. Congratulations KDO on all that you’ve achieved.”
Yukon Energy Corporation President and CEO Andrew Hall

“I’m extremely pleased that the solar power project is now complete and generating energy into the power grid!  KDO’s board of directors are forward thinking community members who look for sustainability for Dawson.  We’ve seen our partnerships result in several successful initiatives, and KDO looks forward to future projects that will make a positive difference for Dawson City.”
Klondike Development Organization President Jackie Olson

“The KDO Dome Road Solar Independent Power project has combined solar photovoltaics with a municipally-owned former municipal landfill site to deliver renewable energy to the Yukon electrical grid. The City of Dawson hopes the success of this project will help motivate residents, businesses, organizations and governments to initiate more renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in our territory, which will help speed our society’s transition to a renewable, low-carbon energy future.”
William Kendrick, Mayor of Dawson City

Full PDF version of press release

Representatives from KDO, Solvest Inc. and Yukon Energy photographed in front of the power distribution box that connects the solar array to the electrical grid. (L to R: KDO’s Colm Cairns, Brian Stethem, Jackie Olson, Stephanie Pawluk, Evelyn Pollock, Solvest’s Cameron Ouellette, Yukon Energy/Spark Power’s Leo Poile).
Ready for a sunny day!
Sunshine peeking over the horizon during construction in November 2021.

This project funded in part by the Government of Canada. www.infrastructure.gc.ca

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Dome Road Solar Power Project under Construction

Dome Road Solar IPP (Independent Power Plant) came about in partnership with the City of Dawson who will be leasing us a former municipal landfill site for the purposes of generating solar energy. We’re so pleased to be putting an otherwise unusable lot to work for our community. The 199kW AC power plant will connect into the Yukon power grid, through an Energy Purchase Agreement with another great partner, Yukon Energy. Generation capacity: 280 MWH/year.

The project aims to offset our community’s carbon footprint through production of renewable energy. While Dawson like much of the Yukon benefits from hydro electricity, we also rely on a diesel generation plant to provide power in times of high demand or in times of power outage. We hope that moving towards solar power produced in our local area will mean less need for the diesel generator sets to turn on, and increase our self-sufficiency over time.

The site identified is a former garbage dump and land treatment facility, but soils testing in summer 2020 indicated the site is suitable to allow an installation such as ours. Using this municipal brownfield offers a perfect opportunity to repurpose the site for solar power generation without having to clear forest or other wild habitat.

Thank you to local & Yukon contractors Grenon Enterprises (taming the giant dirt mountains & making the site usable), Graf Enviro Services (clearing power lines), Yukon Energy (new power poles, lines, transformers, & flexible project partners), Backcountry Construction (fencing), Solvest (project design/engineering/construction)! Special appreciation to Yukon CIBC for gap financing. We’re getting there…

We gratefully acknowledge the funding contributions of Government of Canada https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca
Arctic Energy Fund
Northern REACHE program
Government of Yukon: https://yukon.ca/en/innovative-renewable-energy-initiative
& City of Dawson

Video Photo credits: KDO and Solvest
Video Music Credit: ‘Summer’ by Julian Avila

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Canada and the Yukon invest in more reliable and efficient energy generation in Dawson City

It’s official! KDO is proud and delighted to announce that as a result of the combined efforts of our organization, the City of Dawson, and the Governments of Yukon and Canada…. we will be building a 199 kW AC solar power farm on the former municipal dump site along Dome Road. We are working with Yukon Energy Corporation to provide power directly to the Yukon electrical grid. Yukon- based Solvest has been awarded the construction contract.

News release

Dawson City, August 12, 2021—Across the country, Canadians are feeling the impacts of COVID-19 on their families, livelihoods, and their way of life. Together, the governments of Canada and Yukon are working to ensure community infrastructure is safe and reliable for  families, businesses and communities, while looking ahead to see what more can be done in these unprecedented times.

Today, the Honourable Larry Bagnell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency) and Member of Parliament for the Yukon; the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Federal Minister of Northern Affairs; the Honourable Richard Mostyn, Yukon Minister for Community Services; Jackie Olson, President of the Klondike Development Organization (KDO); and His Worship Wayne Potoroka, Mayor of Dawson City, announced joint funding for the construction of a solar power project in Dawson City.

The Government of Canada is investing $486,000 in this project through the Arctic Energy Fund, and $105,000 through the Northern REACHE Program, while the Government of Yukon is investing $71,500. The Klondike Development Organization is contributing $101,949 to this project and the City of Dawson $11,500.  

Through this project, the Klondike Development Organization will construct a solar power project on the City’s former landfill. The project aims to offset the community’s carbon footprint through the production of renewable energy.

Once completed, this project is expected to generate 280MWh of energy each year in Dawson City and 91.6 tonnes of annual greenhouse gas emissions offsets, thereby reducing dependency on Dawson City’s back-up diesel generation plant.

Quotes

“Access to reliable sources of energy is essential for northern communities to thrive. This new solar power project will provide a reliable and efficient source of energy for Dawson City and help tackle climate change. Canada’s Infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates good jobs across Canada, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities.”

The Honourable Larry Bagnell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency) and Member of Parliament for the Yukon

“The Government of Canada is proud to have supported the Klondike Development Organization in the planning phase of the Dome Road Solar Plant. The project will bring environmental, social and economic benefits to the people of Dawson City. Our shared goal is to have healthier, more sustainable and resilient communities in the North. This type of support empowers communities and their vision for a green future.”

The Honourable Daniel Vandal, P.C., M.P., Federal Minister of Northern Affairs

“It’s great to see renewable energy projects in all of our communities. These projects help the Yukon meet the goals set out in Our Clean Future while reducing the local reliance on fossil fuels, in turn making Dawson City more self-sufficient. I want to thank the Government of Canada, the Klondike Development Organization and the City of Dawson for making this project possible.”

The Honourable John Streicker, Yukon Minister responsible for the Yukon Development Corporation

“I am pleased that the City of Dawson and the Klondike Development Corporation are joining forces with this forward-looking project that will help reduce the use of fossil-fuel energy and create a greener community. The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan is helping First Nations governments, municipalities and communities address long-term infrastructure needs and the Government of Yukon is pleased to work in partnership with them to help improve the quality of life for Yukoners.” 

The Honourable Richard Mostyn, Yukon Minister for Community Services

“The opportunity to take an otherwise unusable brownfield site and generate renewable electricity from our famous ‘midnight sun’ was irresistible. KDO is excited to be building this solar power project to support Dawson’s sustainability.”

Jackie Olson, President of the Klondike Development Organization

“The Klondike Development Organization, of which the town is a charter member, has steadily improved the lives of Klondikers and sought new, innovative ways to transform our community. This latest project is a significant step forward for our town as it increases local capacity for electrical-power supply and lessens our community’s carbon footprint. The City of Dawson is pleased to support this project with an economical municipal land lease and eager to see what opportunities arise from this development.”

His Worship Wayne Potoroka, Mayor of Dawson City

For more information, please see the the full press release from Infrastructure Canada

KDO has posted a Request for Quotations for the site preparation contract which closes August 17.

For more information, watch our website, or Facebook page or contact the office at 867-993-4431.

OUR SINCERE THANKS to the GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA, YUKON and the CITY OF DAWSON for their financial contributions, and SPECIAL THANKS to the TR’ONDëK HWëCH’IN Government for their support of this initiative. We respect and value your stewardship of the land, and we strive to contribute in positive ways within your Traditional Territory.

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Request for Expressions of Interest to find a Solar Energy Engineering and Installation Partner

Earlier this year, Klondike Development Organization completed early stage financial feasibility work for an IPP solar power generation project in Dawson City, and we are now ready to proceed through the next steps towards making the project happen.  KDO is looking to initiate a small pilot project of 250 KW (0.25 MW) during the summer of 2020.

KDO seeks an experienced solar industry partner to assist us in satisfying Yukon Energy’s IPP pre-application process eligibility requirements and completing initial technical feasibility work that will then enable us to complete site selection, a full application to the utility and access financing. This may include photovoltaic array design, grid interconnection planning, and if successful, product sourcing and project installation. 

Full Request for Expressions of Interest here:
https://www.klondikedevelopment.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/KDO-REOI-Solar-Proj-Partner_2019-1.pdf